Ecuador’s president declared the beginning of an “internal armed conflict” in the country as violence by drug cartels sent the country into chaos.

The crisis began after a leading drug lord, Adolfo Macias, escaped an overcrowded prison on Sunday following an announcement from the government that high-profile convicts would be moved to maximum security prisons. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency the following day, empowering the police and military to restore order forcefully.